B.2.96 -xldscope={v} (Sun Studio 12: C User's Guide)

Sun Studio 12: C User's Guide

B.2.96 `-xldscope=`{v}

Specify the -xldscope option to change the default linker scoping for the definition of extern symbols. Changing the default can result in faster and safer shared libraries because the implementation is better hidden.

v must be one of the following:

Table B–26 The -xldscope Flags


Flag	Meaning
`global`	Global linker scoping is the least restrictive linker scoping. All references to the symbol bind to the definition in the first dynamic module that defines the symbol. This linker scoping is the current linker scoping for extern symbols.
`symbolic`	Symbolic linker scoping and is more restrictive than global linker scoping. All references to the symbol from within the dynamic module being linked bind to the symbol defined within the module. Outside of the module, the symbol appears as though it were global. This linker scoping corresponds to the linker option `-Bsymbolic`. See `ld`(1) for more information on the linker.
`hidden`	Hidden linker scoping is more restrictive than symbolic and global linker scoping. All references within a dynamic module bind to a definition within that module. The symbol will not be visible outside of the module.

If you do not specify -xldscope, the compiler assumes -xldscope=global. The compiler issues an error if you specify -xldscope without an argument. Multiple instances of this option on the command line override each other until the rightmost instance is reached.

If you intend to allow a client to override a function in a library, you must be sure that the function is not generated inline during the library build. The compiler inlines a function if you specify the function name with -xinline, if you compile at -xO4 or higher in which case inlining can happen automatically, if you use the inline specifier, if you use the inline pragma, or if you are using cross-file optimization.

For example, suppose library ABC has a default allocator function that can be used by library clients, and is also used internally in the library:

void* ABC_allocator(size_t size) { return malloc(size); }

If you build the library at -xO4 or higher, the compiler inlines calls to ABC_allocator that occur in library components. If a library client wants to replace ABC_allocator with a customized version, the replacement will not occur in library components that called ABC_allocator. The final program will include different versions of the function.

Library functions declared with the __hidden or __symbolic specifiers can be generated inline when building the library. They are not supposed to be overridden by clients. See 2.2 Linker Scoping Specifiers.

Library functions declared with the __global specifier, should not be declared inline, and should be protected from inlining by use of the -xinline compiler option.

See also -xinline, -xO, -xcrossfile, #pragma inline